Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zoo Veterinary Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Zoo Veterinary Coordinator is the operational lead who coordinates clinical veterinary services, preventive medicine, and animal health programs across a zoological collection. This role manages day-to-day veterinary workflows, supervises veterinary technicians and interns, maintains medical records and inventory, ensures regulatory and permit compliance, and partners with animal care, conservation and education teams to promote species-appropriate care and welfare. Ideal candidates demonstrate hands-on clinical skills across diverse taxa (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians), strong program management, and the ability to translate medical priorities into actionable operational plans.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Veterinary Technician (licensed or certified)
Senior Zookeeper / Lead Animal Care Specialist
Wildlife Rehabilitator or Field Biologist with clinical experience

Advancement To:

Head/Veterinary Manager or Clinical Services Manager
Director of Animal Health and Welfare
Associate Director of Conservation & Veterinary Programs

Lateral Moves:

Animal Care Manager / Curator of Mammals, Birds, or Reptiles
Conservation Program Coordinator or Wildlife Health Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Coordinate and oversee all veterinary clinical activities including routine exams, diagnostics, medical treatments, anesthesia, and surgical support for a multi-species collection, ensuring high standards of animal welfare and safety.
Manage and maintain the animal health record system (EHR) with accurate, timely clinical notes, treatment logs, surgical reports, laboratory results, and quarantine documentation to support continuity of care and regulatory audits.
Develop, implement, and monitor preventive medicine programs (vaccination schedules, parasite control, dental care, nutritional monitoring) tailored to species-specific needs and collection health metrics.
Triage and coordinate emergency response for acute illnesses and injuries, mobilizing clinical teams, arranging diagnostics, and implementing emergency treatment protocols while documenting outcomes and follow-up care.
Supervise, schedule, and mentor veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, interns, and volunteer staff; delegate clinical tasks, provide hands-on training, and evaluate performance to maintain a skilled clinical workforce.
Prepare, update, and enforce veterinary standard operating procedures (SOPs), anesthesia and surgical protocols, pain management guidelines, and biosecurity measures to minimize risk and improve outcomes.
Lead anesthesia and surgical case planning: pre-op assessments, anesthesia protocols for diverse taxa, monitoring plans, perioperative pain control, and postoperative care including wound management and rehabilitation.
Coordinate and conduct routine and targeted health assessments, physical exams, diagnostic sample collection (blood, feces, swabs), and interpretation of lab results in partnership with external diagnostic labs.
Manage the veterinary pharmacy, controlled substance logs, medical supplies, and specialized equipment (portable radiography, ultrasound, endoscopy) including procurement, inventory control, cold chain management, and budget reconciliation.
Oversee quarantine intake and release protocols for newly-acquired or returning animals, implement isolation procedures, diagnostic testing panels, and clearance criteria per institutional and regulatory standards.
Liaise with curators, animal care supervisors, nutritionists, and enrichment staff to integrate medical recommendations into husbandry plans, behavioral training, and enclosure modifications that support health and welfare.
Coordinate interfacility transfers, transport health certificates, and pre/post-transfer medical clearances; arrange sedation or safe-handling plans and required permits for interstate or international movement.
Conduct and document necropsies in collaboration with pathologists, coordinate histopathology and toxicology testing, and synthesize findings into preventive recommendations and epidemiologic reports.
Serve as the primary contact for internal and external lab relationships, specialty clinicians, and zoological veterinary networks; coordinate case referrals, consultative telemedicine, and specialist interventions.
Monitor, investigate, and report infectious disease incidents, implement outbreak response plans, and maintain communication with public health agencies when zoonotic risk is identified.
Develop and deliver veterinary-related education and training programs for staff, volunteers, interns, and contractors on topics such as restraint, sample collection, anesthesia safety, CPR, and zoonosis prevention.
Maintain and update all veterinary-related permits, licenses, controlled substance registrations, and compliance documentation; prepare for and support USDA, AZA, or local regulatory inspections and accreditations.
Analyze clinical data and health metrics (morbidity, mortality, preventative compliance) to identify trends, produce regular veterinary reports, and recommend programmatic improvements to leadership.
Participate in conservation, research, and population management initiatives by providing veterinary expertise for field projects, breeding programs, and collaborative studies that support species survival.
Create and manage the veterinary operating budget: forecast medication/supply needs, track expenditures, identify cost-savings, and support grant proposals or donor-funded medical projects.
Coordinate community-facing veterinary outreach and educational opportunities such as behind-the-scenes programs, veterinary talks, and media interviews, ensuring messaging is accurate and reinforces welfare standards.
Lead occupational health and safety programs for animal care and veterinary staff: implement PPE standards, vaccination requirements, bite reporting protocols, and employee exposure follow-up.
Support humane euthanasia decision-making, perform or supervise euthanasia according to policy and AVMA guidelines, and manage related documentation and family/staff communication when applicable.
Integrate and apply evidence-based medicine and current zoo veterinary literature to continuously refine diagnostic, treatment, and preventive protocols across the collection.

Secondary Functions

Assist development teams with procurement specifications for veterinary clinic renovations, mobile treatment carts, and specialized containment units.
Support grant-writing and fundraising efforts by providing clinical program descriptions, outcomes data, and budget justification for veterinary initiatives.
Contribute to animal enrichment planning by advising on medically appropriate enrichment items and behavior modification strategies.
Maintain collaborative relationships with regional wildlife rehabilitators and conservation partners for joint responses to mass casualty events or translocation projects.
Participate in emergency preparedness drills and zoo-wide disaster planning as the veterinary representative for animal-related contingencies.
Collect, organize, and deliver veterinary data for institutional accreditation reports and internal leadership dashboards.
Provide secondary support for public programs and guided tours when veterinary expertise enhances visitor education and species messaging.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Clinical animal medicine across multiple taxa (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians) — physical exams, diagnostics, interpretation.
Veterinary anesthesia and perioperative monitoring for exotic species; familiarity with gas anesthesia, injectable protocols, and monitoring equipment.
Surgical assistance and aseptic technique for common and complex procedures performed in a zoo setting.
Proficiency with veterinary electronic health record (EHR) systems and maintaining detailed medical documentation and controlled substance logs.
Diagnostic sample collection and basic in-house laboratory techniques (hematology, biochemistry, cytology) and experience coordinating external lab services.
Quarantine, biosecurity, and infectious disease control protocols, including testing panels and isolation workflows.
Inventory, controlled substance management, pharmaceutical procurement, and veterinary pharmacy oversight.
Necropsy coordination, basic post-mortem procedure knowledge, and ability to synthesize pathology findings into management actions.
Regulatory compliance: knowledge of USDA, AZA (if applicable), state wildlife permits, and occupational health requirements.
Animal handling, restraint, and safe capture techniques; experience with chemical immobilization and dosing calculations.
Budgeting and program management skills for medical operations, project planning, and grant budget preparation.
Data analysis and reporting skills to track health metrics, morbidity/mortality trends, and program outcomes.

Soft Skills

Strong leadership and people-management: coach, delegate, and develop veterinary and husbandry staff.
Excellent written and verbal communication for clinical notes, reports, grant support, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Critical thinking and problem solving under pressure during medical emergencies and outbreak investigations.
Attention to detail and strong organizational skills to manage multiple clinical cases, records, and regulatory deadlines.
Collaboration and diplomacy: work effectively with curatorial, education, conservation, and facilities teams.
Teaching and mentoring aptitude for interns, technicians, and non-clinical staff with varying experience levels.
Ethical decision-making and compassion in difficult clinical and end-of-life situations.
Flexibility and adaptability for rotating clinical schedules, weekend/after-hours emergency response, and field deployment.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Associate Degree in Veterinary Technology (AVMA-accredited) with state licensure/credentialing (e.g., LVT, RVT) OR
Bachelor's degree in Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, or related field with significant veterinary clinical experience.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's degree (or higher) in a relevant life science field plus formal veterinary technician certification.
DVM (Veterinary Doctorate) or experience working directly under a zoo veterinarian with documented clinical leadership experience is a strong plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Veterinary Technology / Veterinary Medicine
Zoology / Wildlife Biology
Animal Science / Comparative Medicine
Conservation Biology
Biology / Ecology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of progressive veterinary or zoo clinical experience, including hands-on experience with exotic species, anesthesia, surgery support, and emergency medicine.

Preferred:

5+ years of professional experience in a zoo, wildlife rehabilitation, aquarium, or specialty veterinary practice with exotic/wildlife caseloads.
Prior supervisory experience managing veterinary technicians, interns, or clinical teams.
Demonstrated experience with veterinary EHRs, controlled substance management, and regulatory compliance.
Experience coordinating inter-institutional transfers, quarantine protocols, and conservation/field veterinary projects.